Christmas means a lot of things: Jesus, presents, egg nog, hot chocolate, food allergies, stockings, Christmas lights, fires, firefighers, emergency rooms, more egg nog.
To me, Christmas means warm blankets and great movies (and Jesus and presents). So, to get into the Christmas spirit, I thought I'd write about my favorite Christmas movies. I have to preface this with a statement that I still have never seen the original Miracle on 34th Street. That being disclosed, let's get on with it.
I'm told that The Empire Strikes Back doesn't count as a Christmas movie, but what about those reindeer Luke and Han ride around on? And isn't Hoth just a metaphor for the North Pole?
#2. A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim. Alastair Sim's tour de force performance hasn't been trumped in over 50 years of adaptations. The Grinch would shrink from Sim's miser of misers. From oppressor to frightened old man to rebirth, Sim is not just believable but makes the watcher believe his transformation is possible for anyone.
Coming in at #1 is It's a Wonderful Life. When you put James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell and Frank Capra together, you have a winning combination. This is one of the funniest, most inspirational, true-to-life, unsentimental/sentimental (that's a new category I just made up) movies made in the 1940s (which was the greatest decade for movies, by the way).
With characters like George Bailey, Mr. Potter, the angel Clarence, and the original Bert and Ernie, who can pass up a chance to watch this Auld Lang Syne classic? Nobody, that's who. This is Frank Capra's best movie, James Stewart's best performance (and one of the greatest ever), and a wonderful story.
And there's a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught (of egg nog, of course),
For Auld Lang Syne!
6 comments:
Did I just say that I'm done with "me Christmas shopping"? Oh, well, I think I have some Irish or pirate blood in me...somewhere. Maybe one of my ancestors was an Irish pirate? Can you imagine Lucky the Leprechaun hoisting the Jolly Roger? I know I can.
I CANNOT believe The Muppet Christmas Carol didn't make this list. That is a travesty, truly.
Also, the original Miracle on 34th Street is crap. The script is terrible. Don't bother.
I do want an explanation of not liking Halloween.
Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday, especially now.
What did it do to you? Did your mom make you be a ghost every year?
Well, maybe I'm not missing out by not seeing Miracle on 34th Street. I do LIKE The Muppet Christmas Carol a lot, but you HAVE TO see Alastair Sim's version. Way better than Michael Caine's.
Halloween is really fun as far as princesses and pirates and little baby fruit. But when it comes to zombies and death and blood and guts and rotting corpses, that is where it leaves me way behind.
Arr! Ye have some efficient pirate blood to be done sharrrpin befarrr Octobarrr.
Empire is a Christmas movie. It's totally about family bonding.
How could you not like Halloween? It's the night when mischievous spirits are free to roam the streets and you have to trick them into leaving you alone with candy.
I am getting you all the most awesome presents ever for Christmas. That is my clever way of saying that they're all free.
Your word verification is "ousallap" which is French for "your butt made a sucking sound coming off that chair."
I haven't even seen your top two! I guess it's a movie christmas this year....
I just like candy, and Halloween=Candy so I'm ok with halloween. But we definately stick to princesses and baby R2-D2's (Yes, that is what Ella will be this year). I have nightmares... Halloween makes them worse.
And, to quote Spencer, (the best Pirate I know):
"Bring me me yellow pants! ARGH!"
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